Blood-draw finger restraint

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for drawing blood from a finger includes a flexible band, at least a portion of which is adapted to surround a portion of a finger. A remaining portion of the apparatus is disposed under at least one joint of the finger. The apparatus provides sufficient strength along its longitudinal length to restrict a child or other person from excessively bending the joint when the finger restraint is in position. After a puncture is provided near the tip of the finger, the apparatus is then squeezed to help force an additional quantity of blood to flow out through the puncture. After the blood sample is taken, the apparatus continues to “restrain” the finger until a required bandage is applied. A few of the many possible modifications are also shown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention, in general, relates to drawing blood and, moreparticularly, to drawing blood from children.

No one likes to have blood drawn from their body for use in testing. Theskin must be pierced to access human blood, and pain is an inherent sideeffect arising whenever the skin is punctured or otherwise penetrated.

Adults understand the necessity of such a procedure and its potentialfor benefit and, therefore, make an attempt to endure the discomfort.Nevertheless, many adults find the experience quite uncomfortable, evenso.

However, for children, any attempt to draw blood can be especiallydifficult to accomplish. For most blood-draw procedures involvingyounger children, a finger is pricked and then squeezed to force asufficient quantity of blood to the surface for capture and testing.

While this method is generally preferred for several reasons over theprocedures that are used with adults, it is often still a traumaticexperience for most children.

Their reactions are governed by instinctual responses to the experiencesthey are having. When a finger is punctured, the resultant pain causesthe child to tighten their fingers in a fist. This is instinctual, andit happens virtually all of the time.

A lab assistant, medical assistant, phlebotomist, nurse, LVN, medicalstudent or intern, lab technician (lab technician is generally usedhereinafter to refer to any person that is drawing blood), or any otherperson who is drawing the blood must then force the fist open, inparticular, the finger that has been punctured. The child is using allof his or her strength to prevent this from happening.

The ensuing struggle heightens the drama of the moment. The child may becrying or screaming in protest as the lab technician attempts to forceopen the hand.

The squeezing of the fist by the child combined with the pressureexerted by the lab technician is likely to force additional blood outfrom the puncture that was made. This blood is likely to be smeared onthe hands of both child and lab technician, rather than available forcollection.

The visible blood adds even more trauma and drama to the moment whichmakes the child want to close his or her hand all the more.

After the lab technician has forced open the punctured digit, the labtechnician must then apply additional pressure to the digit (finger) toexpress therefrom the required amount of blood for the test.

This act is also painful, and the child will again attempt to close hisor her hand.

The lab technician must then apply the expressed blood to whatever testdevice is being used or otherwise collect it. This is profoundlydifficult to do because the child is constantly crying, screaming,attempting to jerk the hand away from the lab technician, and most ofall forcibly attempting to make a fist and deny access to the puncturedfinger.

The blood-draw procedure for children is especially difficult, and manyare the lab technicians who avoid doing so or admit of their owninadequacy at drawing blood from children. The few who seem to prevailmore often than not at the task are generally regarded as “wonderworkers” by their peers. These peers are only too happy to give thetitle to someone else because perhaps, a primary intention of theirs isactually to delegate the task itself to the “wonder worker.”

It is apparent that the child, at times, is traumatized by the procedureof drawing blood.

When a lab technician is unsuccessful, that technician finds someoneelse to assist in drawing the blood. The lab technician assigned to drawblood usually does the job, but they call for assistance from co-workersto assist with holding the child's hand to gain access to the fingers tofinish the procedure.

In addition to the emotional factors involved, the process of extractingblood (i.e., doing a blood-draw) from a child is almost always quitetime-consuming.

It takes time to open the finger after the child forces it closed. Ittakes time to quiet and calm the child and to express the blood.

Also, if the attempt fails and must be repeated, that adds considerablyto the time involved. This makes the drawing of blood from childrencostly because of the cost of labor. That cost is proportional to thetime required, and a lot of time is required when drawing blood fromchildren.

Furthermore, when repeated attempts are required, additional sterilizedlancets (to puncture the finger) and sterilizing swabs are alsorequired. This increases the cost of the equipment that is used, aswell.

Because of the challenges as mentioned above, only highly-skilled labtechnicians are able to draw blood from children.

Also, as mentioned above, it is typically necessary to squeeze thefinger to express (i.e., to force) a sufficient quantity of blood fromthe puncture (lancing) that was made.

This, too, is somewhat traumatic for the child. They do not like thelocalized pressure of the lab technician squeezing their finger becausethis action increases the discomfort (pain) that the child isexperiencing.

The step of squeezing the finger to express a quantity of bloodtherefrom is also fraught with difficulty.

Usually, a single lab-technician cannot simultaneously do it all whendrawing blood from children. He (or she) cannot hold the finger openagainst the resistance and jerking by the child, lance it, squeeze it toexpress blood from the puncture, apply a test strip to the blood orotherwise collect the blood, and then bandage the puncture. Therefore,the additional services of an assistant (or the wonder worker) areusually also required by the lab-technician. This essentially doublesthe required amount of labor which substantially increases the cost ofdrawing blood from children.

Accordingly, there exists today a need for a blood-draw finger restraintthat helps ameliorate the above-mentioned problems and difficulties.

Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful, cost-effective anddesirable device.

2. Description of Prior Art

In general, various types of blood drawing apparatus are known. Whilethe structural arrangements of the above described and known devices mayhave, at first appearance, certain similarities with the presentinvention, they differ in material respects. These differences, whichwill be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for theeffective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages thatare not available with the prior devices.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a blood-draw fingerrestraint that helps prevent a child from contracting a finger fromwhich blood is being drawn.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that helps prevent a child from contracting a fingerthat has been punctured for drawing blood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blood-draw fingerrestraint that helps retain a finger in an open position during ablood-draw procedure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a blood-draw fingerrestraint that is inexpensive to manufacture.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that is disposable.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that is sterile.

Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that makes it easier to extract blood from afinger.

A first continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that makes it easier to access extracted blood with atest strip or other type of collection device.

A second continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that is adjustable to fit different size fingers.

A third continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that can include an ornament design useful indistracting or amusing a child.

A fourth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that prevents at least one joint of at least one fingerfrom flexing or bending an excessive amount during a blood-drawprocedure.

A fifth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that can also be provided in a variety of sizes tobetter fit different size fingers.

A sixth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that is adapted to fit over a portion of a fingersufficient to prevent at least one joint from flexing an excessiveamount.

A seventh continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that includes a flexible band that is adapted to fitover a portion of a finger and wherein the finger restraint is able toprevent at least one joint from flexing an excessive amount.

An eighth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that includes a flexible band that is adapted to fitover a portion of a finger and wherein the flexible band is adapted tobe squeezed to help express blood from a puncture that is providedthrough the skin of the finger.

A ninth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that allows a lab technician to better maintain controlof a finger during a blood draw procedure.

A tenth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that helps prevent contamination of blood fromoccurring during a blood-draw procedure.

An eleventh continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that prevents a premature expression ofblood through a puncture from occurring during a blood-draw procedure.

A twelfth continuing object of the invention is to provide a blood-drawfinger restraint that helps maintain access to a tip of a finger for arequired bandage application over a puncture that is made in the tip.

A thirteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that helps to make it easier to draw bloodfrom people that are between about nine months to about six years ofage.

A fourteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that provides access to a tip of a fingerfor lancing (puncturing). and for the expression of blood therefrom.

A fifteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that provides access to a tip of a fingerfor the expression of blood therefrom.

A sixteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that provides access to a tip of a fingerfor the application of a test strip to a quantity of blood that isdisposed on the tip of the finger.

A sixteenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that provides access to a tip of a fingerfor the collection of a quantity of blood that is disposed on the tip ofthe finger.

A seventeenth continuing object of the invention is to provide ablood-draw finger restraint that allows blood draw from children to beaccomplished by a singular person whereas before, two people weretypically required.

Briefly, a blood-draw finger restraint that is constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention has a flexible band, atleast a portion of which is adapted to surround a portion of a finger ofa child. A remaining portion of the blood-draw finger restraint isdisposed under at least one joint of the finger. The finger restraintprovides sufficient strength along its length to restrict a child fromexcessively bending the joint of the finger when the finger restraint isin position. The flexible band or other portion of the blood-draw fingerrestraint is then squeezed to help force an additional quantity of bloodto flow out of a puncture that is provided through the skin of thefinger. Several possible modifications are also shown and brieflydiscussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blood-draw finger restraint.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the blood-draw finger restraint of FIG. 1disposed over a finger of a child.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the blood-draw finger restraint of FIG. 2 beingsqueezed to help express blood through an opening that is provided inthe finger.

FIG. 4 is top view of a few possible alternate shapes of the fingerrestraint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring on occasion to FIGS. 1-3 is shown, a blood-draw fingerrestraint, identified in general by the reference numeral 10.

As used herein the term “finger” is intended to include any digit ofeither hand, including the thumb. The blood-draw finger restraint 10 isprimarily intended for use during the drawing of blood 12 (FIG. 3) froma child or toddler ranging from about nine months of age to about sixyears of age. While it can be used with people of other ages, thebenefits derived by the instant invention are generally greatest whenused with people that fall within the above-specified age group. As usedherein, the term “children” is intended to include all persons withinthe above specified age group, including toddlers.

Its use is preferred when attempting to draw blood from children becauseof the tendency a child has to form a fist during the procedure.However, the blood-draw finger restraint 10 can, of course, be providedin any desired size for use with people of any age.

After having had benefit of the instant disclosure, numerous possiblemodifications and variations will become apparent to those havingordinary skill in the art that can be made to the blood-draw fingerrestraint 10. These modifications and variations include changesregarding the material used to form the blood-draw finger restraint 10as well as changes made regarding its shape and structure.

For the purpose of this disclosure a preferred material for theblood-draw finger restraint 10 includes a sheet 13 of plastic that isflexible about a longitudinal axis 14 (dashed lines, FIG. 1). It ispreferred because it can be manufactured at extremely low cost andprovided for singular use and disposal.

The sheet 13 includes a first protruding band 16 and a second protrudingband 18 that are disposed on one side of the sheet 13 and on oppositeends of the sheet 13. The first and second protruding bands 16, 18 areformed integral with respect to the material used to form the remainderof the sheet 13.

A remainder of the sheet 13 includes a main body portion 19 that is alsopreferably formed as an integral part thereof.

When the sheet 13 is disposed as shown in FIG. 1, it is substantiallyplanar. If desired, the sheet 13 can be shipped as shown in FIG. 1.

The sheet 13 is preferably provided in a disposable container (notshown) for opening prior to drawing blood from a finger 20 of the child.A quantity of the sheets 13 (or the blood-draw finger restraints 10) canbe packaged together, as desired. Each of the blood-draw fingerrestraints 10 is preferably sterilized to preclude it from being acontributory cause of possible infection. The blood-draw fingerrestraint 10, as mentioned above, is intended for opening, use, and safediscard after use. It is not intended to be reused.

During use, the main body portion 19 is placed under and against thefinger 20, on a side of the finger 20 that is opposite that of a nail 22by a lab technician, medical-assistant, phlebotomist, nurse, LVN,student, intern, lab technician, doctor, or any other person who isdrawing the blood.

The first protruding band 16 and the second protruding band 18 are eachurged in the direction shown by arrows 24 until they are wrapped aroundthe finger 20. The longitudinal axis 14 then passes through the centerof the finger 20.

As the first protruding band 16 and the second protruding band 18 areeach urged around the finger 20, the main body portion 19 also curves tomatch the shape of the finger 20.

When the blood-draw finger restraint 10 is disposed around the finger20, as shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable that the first protruding band16 and the second protruding band 18 have a combined length, includingthe length of the main body portion 19 that is disposed between thefirst and second protruding bands 16, 18, that is greater than thecircumference of the finger 20 at the location of the finger where theyare placed.

This causes at least some overlap by either the first protruding band 16over the second protruding band 18 or by the second protruding band 18over the first protruding band 16 and, depending on the size of theblood-draw finger restraint 10 and the circumference of the finger 20,possibly some overlap by either of the first or second protruding bands16, 18 that may extend over a small section of the main body portion 19.

The overlap helps ensure that the blood-draw finger restraint 10 will beretained in position over the finger 20 during the blood-draw procedure.

Preferably, the blood-draw finger restraint 10 is not shipped flat butis preformed to include a natural tendency to curve around thelongitudinal axis 14 and take the shape as shown in FIG. 2. This furtherhelps to ensure that the blood-draw finger restraint 10 will remain inposition over the finger 20.

The curvature of the first and second protruding bands 16, 18 and by themain body portion 19 provide an important benefit in that the blood-drawfinger restraint 10 becomes significantly more rigid and resistant toflexing itself along the longitudinal axis 14 after it has taken acurved shape.

The material used to form the blood-draw finger restraint 10 istypically thin plastic, similar in thickness to the plastic that iscommonly used to form the sidewalls of a plastic gallon milk container,as is commonly sold.

When this thin plastic is disposed on a flat plane, as shown in FIG. 1,it can readily be bent (i.e., curved) in any direction. Of course, ifthe blood-draw finger restraint 10 includes a preset (i.e. a pre-formedor built-in) tendency to curve as shown in FIG. 2, it will be difficultto curve it in any direction other than as shown. That is an addedbenefit of including the preset curvature into the blood-draw fingerrestraint 10 during manufacture. However, absent that tendency it wouldnot take much force to flex or curve it along any possible axis passingthere-through.

It is important to understand that once the blood-draw finger restraint10 has either been forced into the position as shown in FIG. 2 or hasreadily adapted to that position because of its natural “built-in”preset tendency to curve in that direction as part of the manufacturingprocess, it will resist flexing (i.e., bending or curving) along anyaxis other than along the longitudinal axis 14.

Accordingly, the thin material that the blood-draw finger restraint 10is made of becomes much stronger and much more resistant to bending(flexing) in other directions.

The blood-draw finger restraint 10, when placed over the finger 20, istypically placed near the tip of the finger 20, just behind the nail 22,as shown. This position covers an end joint 26 (dashed line) of thefinger 20.

Accordingly, were it not for the restraint provided by the blood-drawfinger restraint 10, the child would be able to flex a tip of theirfinger 20 (i.e., that portion of the finger 20 that is disposed betweenthe end joint 26 and the furthermost portion of the nail 22) in adirection shown by arrow 28.

When the blood-draw finger restraint 10 is disposed as shown, it limitsthe ability of the finger 20 to bend about the end joint 26 in thedirection of arrow 28. A small amount of bending is acceptable as itwill not impede the blood-draw procedure. As mentioned above, the thinmaterial used provides substantial resistance to any flexing of thefinger 20 in the direction as shown by arrow 28.

A lab technician (not shown) that is drawing the blood from the child orinfant, places the blood-draw finger restraint 10 around the finger 20,as shown. The lab technician then places typically either a tip of theirthumb (not shown) or a tip of their forefinger (not shown) on a locationidentified by a spot 30. Typically, the spot 30 is not shown orotherwise included with the blood-draw finger restraint 10. It is shownonly to assist in providing a better understanding of the use of theblood-draw finger restraint 10.

The lab technician would then simultaneously place the remaining tip ofeither their thumb or forefinger (whichever was not placed over the spot30) on the opposite side of the blood-draw finger restraint 10 that isdiametrically opposed to the location of the spot 30.

The position allows the lab technician to easily take control of thefinger 20.

By placing the blood-draw finger restraint 10 in the position as shown,it also conveniently leaves the bottom of the tip of the finger 20available (i.e., open and accessible) for puncturing with a lancet 32.

Different versions of the lancet 32 as are commonly used for thispurpose are well known and are, therefore, not discussed herein. Use ofthe lancet 32 provides a puncture 34 (i.e., an opening) through theskin. The act of puncturing the skin is painful and the child willinstinctively react to a “lancing” of their finger 20 by attempting tobend the finger 20 around the end joint 26 as shown in the direction ofarrow 28.

The child would also likely react by attempting to bend all of theremaining joints (not shown) of the finger 20 also in the generaldirection as shown by arrow 28. Furthermore, the child would also likelyreact by similarly bending all of the remaining fingers (not shown) ofthe hand in the general direction as shown by arrow 28, therebyattempting to make a fist.

However, use of the blood-draw finger restraint 10 prevents this fromhappening with the finger 20. The lab technician, by holding theblood-draw finger restraint 10 as described hereinabove, is able toretain the finger 20 in the position, as shown, after use of the lancet32 has created the puncture 34.

After creation of the puncture 34, the lab technician retains their gripand control of the finger 20 by continuing to apply a sufficient amountof force on the spot 30 and also to a diametrically opposed side of theblood-draw finger restraint 10. This level of force prevents bending ofthe finger 20.

It is normal for a small amount of blood 12 to flow out of the puncture34; however, that amount is generally insufficient to adequatelysaturate a test strip 36 that is applied thereto. In lieu of the teststrip 36, other test devices (not shown) or blood collection devices maybe used.

However, it is important that the blood 12 be present in sufficientvolume on the tip of the finger 20. According to the prior art approachto drawing blood from children, the lab technician would typically haveto pry open the clenched finger 20 in order to gain access to thepuncture. Then the lab technician would have to change his or her gripand attempt to squeeze the tip of the finger 20 in order to express(i.e., force) a sufficient quantity of the blood 12 to flow through thepuncture 34.

Not only is this traumatic for the child, but it is also time consuming.An additional negative consequence from this prior approach is thatduring the process of prying open the finger and expressing the blood12, the lab technician may inadvertently make contact with the blood 12and possibly contaminate it.

Accordingly, the lab test data results may be inaccurate orinconclusive. Also, the blood 12 may be smeared and contact the skin andclothes of the child or of the lab technician or both, which isundesirable.

Because the lab technician must apply additional force to the finger 20in order to pry it open, this very act may cause the finger 20 toexpress additional blood 12 through the puncture 34 at a time that isnot desirable because the lab technician is not at that time prepared tocontact the blood 12 with the test strip 36.

The blood 12 that is prematurely expressed while prying open the finger20 is apt to smear. If smeared, the untimely expressed blood 12 removesa quantity of available blood 12 from the tip of the finger 20 whichalso makes it more difficult to later express an additional amount ofblood 12, when needed.

These problems are eliminated by use of the blood-draw finger restraint10. Use of the blood-draw finger restraint 10 retains the finger 20substantially as shown, in an extended (i.e., straight) attitude.

As mentioned above after use of the lancet 32, the lab technicianretains their grip and control of the finger 20 by continuing to apply asufficient amount of force on the spot 30 and also to a diametricallyopposed side of the blood-draw finger restraint 10.

To express the needed quantity of the blood 12 from the puncture 34, thelab technician does not change their hand position with respect to thefinger 20. Instead, the lab technician merely increases the amount offorce that he or she is applying to the spot 30 and the opposite side ofthe blood-draw finger restraint 10 as shown by arrows 30 a and 30 b,both of which point toward each other.

This increase of pressure causes the first and second protruding bands16, 18 and the main body portion 19 of the blood-draw finger restraint10 to flex an additional amount and to transfer a portion of theincreased pressure to that portion of the finger 20 that is disposedunderneath.

This automatically increases pressure within the tip of the finger 20and expresses the additional required amount of blood 12 through thepuncture.

Accordingly, no change in hand or finger position by the lab technicianis required to express the blood 12. The lab technician can immediatelyincrease pressure sufficient to express the blood 12 as soon as thepuncture 34 is created. The child may not even be aware of the increasedpressure. Perhaps even before the child knows it, the puncture 34 isprovided and a sufficient quantity of blood 12 has been expressed(forced) through the puncture 34. The lab technician then applies thetest strip 36 to the blood 12 and the procedure is over. Trauma isvirtually eliminated. Time is saved. Stress is reduced.

Obviously, if additional test strips (not shown) must be used, they areapplied in sequence. If an additional quantity of blood 12 is requiredto satisfy the demands of the additional test strips, the lab technicianagain increases pressure, as was described above, to express anadditional quantity of the blood 12. The entire blood-draw procedure iscompleted in a smooth continuum in an absolute minimum amount of time.

The time required for the blood-draw procedure is greatly reduced byeliminating the steps of the lab technician having to pry open theclenched finger 20 after lancing and of having to change their grip uponthe finger 20 in order to express the blood 12.

To help distract the child during the blood-draw procedure, any of avariety of ornamental shapes 38, 40 can be printed or embossed orotherwise included with the blood-draw finger restraint 10. The labtechnician could conceivably distract the child just prior to lancing byasking them to look at or comment on the ornamental shapes 38, 40.

It is desirable also to ensure that the blood-draw finger restraint 10includes rounded corners and edges that are not sharp. This is to helpreduce the likelihood that a cut to the finger 20 can occur during theblood-draw procedure.

Many modifications are possible to the blood-draw finger restraint 10after having had benefit of the instant disclosure. For example, ifdesired, the main body portion 19 could be modified to extend further ina direction away from the nail 22 and to cover more of the remainingjoints of the finger 20. This could be of additional benefit inpreventing the child from bending the finger 20 in the direction asshown by arrow 28.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a few possible alternate device shapes (4 a-4e) of the finger restraint are shown, each example that is shown beingin a plan view with the alternate shape disposed in a plane.

The dimensions of 4 a are included to provide a preferred overall sizethat is sufficient for this particular modification to fit the greatervariety of sizes of the finger 20, as is likely to be found on children.These dimensions also provide a general indication of possibledimensions for all possible versions of the blood-draw finger restraint10. Of course, other sizes are possible to optimally accommodate othersizes of the finger 20, as may be well encountered.

The modification as shown in 4 a eliminates either one of the first orsecond protruding bands 16, 18 while extending the other.

The modification as shown in 4 e includes a modified shape to the mainbody portion and relocates the first and second protruding bands 16, 18from an end of the main body portion to a more central portion thereof.

The modifications as shown in 4 c and 4 d teach that it is possible toeliminate the first and second protruding bands 16, 18 entirely byincreasing the overall size of the main body portion. Variation of theshape of the main body portion is also taught as shown in each of theillustrations (4 a-4 e).

A concave tip portion 42 is shown as including a recessed area that isprovided at a top of each of the devices (4 a-4 e). During use, theconcave tip portion 42 is disposed on a side of the finger 20 proximatethe nail 22. The concave tip portion 42 can also be included with thepreferred version of the blood-draw finger restraint 10, as wasdescribed hereinabove.

A purpose of the concave tip portion 42 is to encourage flexing of themain body portion around the finger 20 (around the longitudinal axis14). An additional purpose is to ensure that a sufficient uncovered areaof the tip of the finger 20 that is disposed under the nail 22 remainsexposed for creating the necessary puncture 34.

All of the possible alternate device shapes are adapted to be placedaround the finger 20 and all help to prevent bending of the finger 20after lancing. Also, all of the possible alternate device shapes provideoptimum control of the finger 20 by the lab technician and allow for theapplication of increased pressure to opposite sides of the alternatedevice to express an additional quantity of the blood 12 for use withthe test strip 36 (or other test device). Also, all of the alternatedevice shapes are economical to manufacture and disposable after use.

The blood-draw finger restraint 10 also provides an additional importantbenefit. After the blood-draw procedure is complete, the blood-drawfinger restraint 10 is used to maintain the finger 20 in an erect orextended position, as shown in FIG. 3, while a bandage (also known as aband-aid, not shown) is applied over the puncture 34.

When the blood-draw procedure is complete, the lab technician easilyslips the blood-draw finger restraint 10 off of the finger 20 by urgingit toward the nail 22 and continuing to urge it in that direction untilit is off the finger 20.

The time that is saved by use of the blood-draw finger restraint 10allows for each lab technician to serve more people in a given period oftime. This reduces the number of lab technicians, medical assistants ornurses (i.e. medical staff or phlebotomists) that are required by thelab which generally helps to lower the cost of drawing blood.

Also very important, the entire blood-draw procedure is accomplished bythe one lab-technician. Help is not required, thereby greatly reducingthe labor costs involved. Also, the labor cost of having to repeatfailed attempts and the material costs (such as lancets) associated withrepeated attempts are also eliminated.

The blood-draw finger restraint 10 simplifies the drawing of blood,especially from children. Accordingly, less skilled lab technicians arerequired. This also saves additional money for the lab.

Whenever the lab technician (or other medical staff person that isdrawing the blood 12) releases the finger 20, the child willautomatically and instinctively bend the finger 20 in the directionshown by arrow 28. Accordingly, the blood-draw finger restraint 10 isalso used to maintain control of the finger 20 until after the bandagehas been applied. At that time the portion of the blood-draw procedurethat requires interaction with the child is complete.

The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantialdetail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will beunderstood by those skilled in this art that other and further changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A blood-draw finger restraint for drawing blood from a finger of ahand of a person, comprising: (a) a body portion that is formed offlexible sheet of material, and including at least one member that isattached to said body portion, and wherein said body portion and said atleast one member are formed of a contiguous and continuous piece of saidflexible sheet material, and wherein said body portion and said membereach include a preset tendency to curve around a common longitudinalaxis thereof in a circle sufficient to form a generally cylindricalshape with a longitudinal opening therein; and wherein when a force isapplied to said member and to said body portion that is sufficient tourge and maintain said member and said body portion in an open positionthat does not include said cylindrical shape, said member and said bodyportion are able to be placed proximate said finger and in a positionwherein said preset tendency to curve supplies a force that isattempting to urge said body portion and said member toward and aroundsaid finger, and wherein when said force is removed from said member andsaid body portion while said member and said body portion are disposedproximate said finger, said preset tendency of said member and said bodyportion supplies a force that is sufficient to urge said member and saidbody portion into said cylindrical shape and around said finger untilsaid finger is disposed in an interior of said cylindrical shape and aportion of said member and a portion of said body portion are in contactwith an exterior of said finger, and wherein said member and said bodyportion include a combined overall length that is greater than acircumference of said finger, and wherein when said finger is disposedin said interior of said cylindrical shape a fingertip of said finger isnot covered and is accessible; (b) means for limiting an amount saidfinger can bend around an axis of a joint of said finger, and whereinsaid joint is disposed closer to a fingernail of said finger than anyother remaining joint of said finger when said blood-draw fingerrestraint is disposed in said cylindrical shape and around said finger,and wherein when said blood-draw finger restraint is disposed in saidcylindrical shape around said finger said portion of said combinedoverall length of said member and said body portion that is greater thansaid circumference of said finger includes an area of overlap thatextends over a portion of said blood-draw finger restraint, and whereinwhen said blood-draw finger restraint is disposed around said fingersaid body portion and said member and said area of overlap of saidflexible sheet material combine together to provide sufficient rigidityfor limiting an amount that said joint of said finger can be bent bysaid person, and wherein said area of overlap does not include anyfastening means, and wherein said preset tendency to curve around saidlongitudinal axis supplies a force to said body portion and to said atleast one member that attempts to increase the size of said area ofoverlap, and wherein said preset tendency to curve automatically adjuststo a size of said finger when said finger includes a smallercircumference, and wherein when said finger includes a largercircumference said preset tendency to curve around said longitudinalaxis supplies a force to said body portion and to said at least onemember that decreases said area of overlap and thereby automaticallyadjusts to said size of said finger that includes said largercircumference; wherein said blood-draw finger restraint, when disposedproximate said finger and in a position suitable for use, does notextend beyond said finger or make contact with a palm of said hand, andwherein said blood-draw finger restraint does not pass around orotherwise cooperatively engage with a remaining finger of said handother than with said finger, and wherein a tip of said finger is notcovered by any portion of said blood-draw finger restraint and whereinsaid tip of said finger includes a sufficient uncovered and unobstructedarea to permit a lancing of said tip of said finger sufficient toproduce a puncture in said tip of said finger; wherein a splint is notattached to or used with said blood-draw finger restraint; wherein apanel that is detachably-attachable with respect to said blood-drawfinger restraint is not attached to or used with said blood-draw fingerrestraint; and wherein said blood-draw finger restraint does not includeany additional fastening means for securing said blood-draw fingerrestraint proximate said finger other than said preset tendency of saidbody portion and said member to curve around said longitudinal axis. 2.The blood-draw finger restraint of claim 1 wherein said means forlimiting an amount said finger can bend around an axis includes aportion of said body portion that is disposed under said joint when saidblood-draw finger restraint is disposed around said finger.
 3. Theblood-draw finger restraint of claim 2 wherein said body portionincludes an ornamental shape that is affixed thereto.
 4. The blood-drawfinger restraint of claim 1 wherein said blood-draw finger restraintincludes a second member, and wherein a combined length of said bodyportion and said member and said second member is sufficient to extendfully around said circumference of said finger and to include said areaof overlap.
 5. The blood-draw finger restraint of claim 1 wherein saidflexible sheet material includes a plastic.
 6. The blood-draw fingerrestraint of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material includes aplastic sheet.
 7. The blood-draw finger restraint of claim 6 whereinsaid plastic sheet includes said preset tendency to curve around saidlongitudinal axis thereof in a circle.
 8. The blood-draw fingerrestraint of claim 1 wherein said blood-draw finger restraint isprovided in a sterile condition.